Fuel-tank for automobiles.



E. M. STEVER.

FUEL TANK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIOATION FILED D110. a, 1913.

1 ,O97,950, Patented May 26, 1914.

Witnesses Inventor Attorneys ELBEBT u. sfrvma.,v oF BRANCHPORT, NEW Yoan.

FUEL-TANK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

speciacaiion @Leners raient. Patented )my 26, 1914,

Application led December 3, 1913. SeriatNo. 804,551.

To all ich oni-it may concern -Be it known that I, laminar M. brieven,

.a citizen of the United States. residing at which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fuel tanks for automobiles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank including main and reserve compartments so that when the fuel has been exhausted from the niain compartment, the fuel in the reserve compartment will be available.

A further object is to provide a reserve compartment located adjacent the top of the ltank whereby fuel may be had under an extra head should the occasion so warrant.

A' further object is to provide a fuel tank includingr a main compartment. and an auxiliary or reserve compartment located adjacent the top of the tank and communi` eating with which. arc Separate and independent pipes so that the fuel may be supplied to the carbureter from either Aof the said compartments and to provide a valve controlling the fuel supplied from the said compartments within the reach of the vehicle operator while the-latter. is driving the vehicle.-

lVith the foregoing and other objects in i view which will appear as the description proceeds. the invention resides in the coinlii- .nation andpairangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed. 'it beingA understood that. changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without,

' departing from the spiritof the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this speciticationf and forming a part thereof, the preferable embodiment of my invention is illustrated, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improved fuel storage tank and with the accessories leading thereto` the tank being illustrated in its position beneath lthe vehicle seat. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same illustrating the selecting valve whereby either of the compartments of the tank may deliver fuel to the carbnreter. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of the selecting or controlling valve.

`Itteter'ring to th drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corre' parts throughout the several` sponding views, a vehicle seat 4 is spaced a sli ht or limited distance above the floor 5 and eneath which seat is loatcd my im roved fuel storage tank 6. Following the lines of the inost recent automobile design, the seat has been represented as being spaced/a limited distance above the Hoor and therefore although. the carlinreter is not illustrated it is to he understood that it ison about the general level with the floor 5, such being the usual construction.

The fuelstorage tank 6 is provided 'with the partition T extending down from the top for some little distance and connected to which is the transverse artition 8. The partitions T and 8 extend t ie entire width of the tank and define the main compartment 9 and the auxiliary or reserve compartment 10. The main compartment is provided with the opening 11 communicating therewith and through which the fuel is introduced. A similar opening 12 is provided communicating wit-h the auxiliary or. reserve conipartment 10. Thus it will be a,

parent that the fuel is introduced into te vsecond openingy 16 extending therethrough and through whichA extends the auxiliary compartment 'outlet or delivery'pipe 17, but which docs not vin `any way communicate with the main compartment. The partition or bottom 8 of the auxiliaryor reserve cornpartment'is providedwith the outlet 18 extending v. therethrough and connnunicating with -`which is the 'pipe 17 'which extends through the main compartment 9.. The

'main and auxiliary delverypipes 15 andl' lead to the selecting or4 controlling valve 19 by means of which either of the main or auxiliary compartments are brought into communication with a fuel supply pipe 20, which latter communicates with the car- 'bureten The selecting valve- 19 includesthe casing 21 which as illustrated in Figs. l and 5 2, in-

cludes the upwardlyv extending segmental plate 22which is secured to seat t by the screws 23 or other equivalentmeans The segmental plate 22 is provided with the indicationsl 24 marked thereon and which indications indicate the position of the selecting valve and which, if any, of the compartments are in communication with the fuel supply pipe. The casing is provided with the bore 9.5 extending therethrough commu# nicating with which are the pipes 15 and 17 and a third pipe or opening 2G. The opening 2G extends down through the lower extremity of the casing and is closed by the pet cock 27. The fuel supply pipe 2O also communicates with the openingEZG as illustraled in Figs. 1 and 2. A valve plug 28 is rotatably positioned within the valve cha1nber or bore 25 and is provided with the two noncommunicating passages 30 which lead therethrough. The passages are adapt-ed to bring either the pipe 15 or 17 into communication with the openin 26. It is to be noted as illustrated in l? ig. 3, that when one of the pipes 15 or 17 is in communication with the opening 2G, the other of the said pipes will be closed. The valve stcml engages the plug 2S and extends above and moves parallel to the segmental indicating and supporting plate 22. The valve stem 31 acts as a pointer, by means of which the position of the plug QS is determined and controlled.

lVith the tank and selecting valve as above outlined, either of the compartments may be emptied or drained through the pet cock 27, independently of the other compartment. Also a reserve quantity of fuel may always be kept so that when steep hills or grades are encountered, and with the fuel in the main compartment at a low level, the carbureter will be raised above the general level of the liquid within the main compartment. ,In these instances, the valve stem is moved so that -the reserve jor auxiliary compartment will be brought into comn'iunicat-ion with the supply pipe 20 and due to the raised position of the compartment, fuel will be supplied Ato the earbureter. Also should it be desired to supply the ca'rbureter with fuel under an increased head, the-same may be accomplished by bringing the auxiliary reserve tank into communication therewith.

, Another and desirable feature of the present construct-ion arises from the Aindependence of the tanks, namely, that-different i Thus a owerful grade of fuel could be stored in one tank so as to impart additional power to tlie engine when a hill or other obstruction is encountered. 0

Having thus fully described my mventlon,

x`what I claim to be new and original with me is 1. A fuel tank for apparatus of ,the class described, comprising a main receptacle, a partition disposed therein connected' to one end wall and the' side walls thereof and extending paralle'l to the bottom of said receptacle,`a second partition connected to the first mentioned partition and to the top of said receptacle, said partitions dividing the receptacle into main and auxiliary compartments, with the auxiliary compartment at the top of said receptacle, a pipe extendingv through the main compartment and colfolnu-- n nicating with said auxiliary compartment ,a

second outlet pipe communicating with the main compartment, a fuel supply pipe, and means communicating with the fuel supply pipe and the tank outlet pipes for the selec tion of fuel for the said fuel supply pipe.

H2. A fuel tank for apparatus of the class described, comprising a'main receptacle, a

aio

sis

partition disposed therein connected to one end wall andthe sidewalls thereof and extending parallel to the bottom of said receptacle, a second partition-connected to the first mentioned partition and tothe top of saidireceptacle, said partitions dividing the .receptacle into mam and auxiliary compartsaid fuel supply. tpipe and the said tank out-- let pipes dispose directly therebeneath. 1

In testimony that I clalm the foregoing as my own, I' have hereto afxed my slgnature l in the presence of two witnesses. i

4 ELBERT M. STEVER. l VVitnes'ses:

A. F. Bonsoir, CHAs. E. WILLIS. 

